Special Movie Screening
14.07.2009

Kyoto based Swiss filmmaker Roger Walch (44) will present two of his films at Nagoya’s Cinema Skhole on July 23. His new narrative TENGU (63 min) stars legendary actor/singer Mikami Kan (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Tokyo Decadence) and actress Mimori Sento (Firefly Dreams) and tells the story of a shipwrecked foreigner (played by American actor Ted Taylor) who becomes the origin of a famous Japanese legend. LOST ISLAND (20 min) is an experimental short-film that was partially shot on the spectacular abandoned mining island of Gunkanjima, off the Nagasaki coast.
Synopsis of TENGU Red-faced and large-nosed, the Tengu is a Japanese nature spirit, dwelling in remote forests, eating raw meat, and teaching fighting skills to the famous warriors of history. Interestingly, there is speculation that the Tengu stories were derived from encounters with ship-wrecked European sailors, forced into hiding during Japan’s period of isolation. It is this aspect of the myth that filmmaker Roger Walch seizes in a new hour-length feature film, and turns into an exploration of the modern ex-pat experience, as well as the power of dreams, mask and mystery in everyday life. David (Ted Taylor) comes to Japan for one week to study traditional legends. He is supposed to meet Professor Ozawa, a leading expert in the field. But when he arrives, he gets picked up by Ozawa's two female assistants, Sanae (Mimori Sento) and Manami (Sakiko Ikegami). They bring him to a traditional guest-house and accompany him during his stay. A strange man in the bath house (Kan Mikami) tells David about a local Tengu legend. Tengu are a class of well known monster-spirits with a long nose and a red face who lived in the Japanese forests and mountains. David is immediately fascinated. But the more he finds out about the Tengu, the more he is drawn into his own past-life. Tengu (63 min, Japan 2009) Written and directed by Roger Walch Starring: Ted Taylor, Mimori Sento (Firefly Dreams), Sakiko Ikegami, Kan Mikami (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Tokyo Decadence) Music: Kan Mikami (Guitar/Vocals), Takatora Kawamoto (Shamisen), Silvai Kyokusai Guignard (Biwa), Shino Nagasaka/Kumiko Itoyama (Double Bass), Taro Matsumoto (Shakuhachi), Roger Walch (piano)
For more information:  http://rowmusefilms.com (Roger Walch’s site) http://www.cinemaskhole.co.jp (Cinema Skhole)